Apparatus for electrically resolving water-in-oil emulsions



May 28, 1946. P. H, BRACE 2,400,975

APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY RESOLVING WATERIN-OIL EMULSIONS Filed July 29, 1940 @ce FM A 7' Tom/E v5.

` novel electrode Patented May 2.8, 1946 My invention relates tothe electric fluids and, more particularly, trode construction for an electric `for the treatment of emulsions.

subjection of a waterintensity electric eld v APPARATUS Fo ING WATER-mean.

Paul n. Brace, Mount P1 to Del Petrolite Corporati acorporation of NTI oFFlc-E 2.400.975 v y a ELEcrmcALLY nEsoLvf EMULSIONS easant, Mich., assigner on, Ltd., Wilmingto Delaware Application July 29, 1940, Serial No. 348,105l

treatment to a novel electreater adapted inoi1 emulsion to a highwill cause coalescence of the dispersed water droplets into masses of -suil'icient size to be readily separable from the oil. Such emulsions may be of the type produced from which eventthe tends to dehydrate the oil.,l

the emulsion removed therewith when constituents are subjecte aration.

canl be artifici electric treatment In other instances,

ally formed. For exarold C. Eddy, No. s for purifying oils in with to form a waterubjected to the actiony eld, the dispersed ce and various impuri. d with the Water to be the electrically-treated d to gravitational sep- It has been found that when certain emulsions Y are electrically treated arated, there is a tendency for the accumulation of sludge in the separating zone.vl This sludge comprises unresolved emulsion/and,

below the electrodes,

to build up short-circuit the same.

if permitted will tend to It is an object of the present invention toprovide a novel method of electric treatment anda tendencies.

structure which reduces sludge Another object of the invention-'is to move a stream of emulsion successively through electric lfields of different the electric field character. The iirst portion of is preferably one of uniformV gradient; such a eld being formed, for example,

between two spaced plates, a subsequent portion of the electric field being of a concentrated character, for example, a eld formed adjacent an edge.

It is another object of the invention to new an emulsionadjacent a substantiallyI atpor'tion of anA electrode and to move this emulsion subsequently through 'an electric ileld which extends to a plurality of edges.

Another object of the invention is to discharge -bounded e1ectric field an emulsion into an ed by use of a pairvof plates bers,4 irrespective of wh dine-rence is maintained If the members are of in to maintain a iield ther members are insulated or relatively flat memf bounded iield in an and the constituents seps claims, (01.204-302) the plate and with such velocity that it flows beyond the end of Sequence. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a pair of plates spaced from each other. to denne a passage directed toward an electric treating space, at leastone. of` the plates includingA an opening, together with an emulsion-distributing means extending through the opening and discharging the emulsion into the passage. A

Another object of the invention is to provide such an electrode structure submerged in a duid of higher resistivity than the incoming emulsion, and to provide an annular opening between the emulsion-distributing means and that one oi' the plates through which it'extends so that the Jet of emulsion draws some of the iiuid of higher rethe plate and across the edges in sistivity into the passage.

ether or not a potential betweenV these members.

etal, it is often desirable ebetween, though if the eachother or iare.

Y riod `of time, a body of water Further objects and advantages of the invention will be evident. to those skilled in the art from the description which follows.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is e vertical sectional view of a treater embodying the inventionr' Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the electrode structure of Figure 1:

Figure '3 is a, sectional view taken as indicated bythe line 3-3 of Figure 1: and j Figure iis a vertical sectional view of the emulsion-distributing meansshown inFlgures 1 and 2. Referring particularly to Figure 1, the electric treater is shown as including a. tank I ll closed at its upper and lower ends by heads Il and l2. After the treater has been in oplaltion for a De.

lower end ofthe tank I 0, the'upper surface therewater being withdrawn through a pipe I4 containing avalve Il acting to maintain a superatmospheric pressure within the tank.V Above the surface I3 'is an oil environment including emulsion constituents undergoing separation.4 The water` content4 1x1-this separating zone progressively decreases toward the upper end thereof so y that the treated oil can be withdrawn throughs pipe I1 including afvalve i8 which is also reform in the suitable means such present invention age gradient more `intense at a stricted in such manner as to maintain the desired superatmospheric pressure in the 4btank.

` An electrode means is suspended in this oil environmentand is shown as including upper and lower electrodes and 2|. ,Referring particularlyto Figures 1, 2and 3, the upper elec- 'trode 20 is shown as including a support'22 comprising a star-shaped interstitial structure. Depending from attachment members 23 secured to the. lower side thereof is a plurality of-.concentric rings 25 deiining edges 28 these rings being separated fromeach other to define spaces capable of conducting settling constituents transversely through the electrode 2li. These rings maybe' iormed of ribbon-like metal. suitably secured to the attachment members 23, the construction being such that the edges 25 are lsubstantially in alignment.

lfThe upper electrode 20 is supported, at subf stantially the position shown in Figure l, by any as a plate 2'lconnected to viriward-extending portions, of the support 22 This plate 21 is secured to the lower end of a rod a string of insulators 2s which is carried by a hanger from the upper wall Similarly, the lower electrode 2| comprises` a star-shaped support 32 to which attachment members 33 are secured to extend upward therefrom. At the upper end of these attachment members are retained spaced concentric rings 35 providing edges 35 which are 'preferably disaligned with respect to the edges 26 oi the upper electrode tial alignment with each other. This support 32 provides outward-extending arms 3l adjustablyconnected to rods `38 so as to be capable of vertical adjustment with respect to the electrode 2t. Strings of insulators 55 support the rods 38 and are carried by hangers 55. The star-shaped supports 22 and 32 are not, per se, a part' of the and are described and shown more .in detail in the copending application of Waterman; et al., Serial No. 326,274. f

To establish and ence between the-upper and lower electrodes 2li and 2i, I have shown transformers 52 and e3 bbnnected in additive relationship. One terminal of each of the secondary windings of these `transformers is grounded as indicated at 44. yThe remaining high-voltage terminal of transformer 42 is connected by a conductor e5 to the rod 28, this conductor extending through a bushing 45. Similarly, the remaining high-voltage terminal of the transformer 43 is connected to one of the rods 38, and thus to the lower electrode 2|, by a conductor 4l extending through-y a' bushing 48. By this mode of connection. each of the electrodes 20 and 2| is maintained at a potential above ground, and if the transformers 42 and. 63 are of substantially equal voltage, the potential between these electrodes will be twice the potential `between either electrode and any grounded portion of the equipment, for example. the emulsion distributor to be later described' or thetank l0.

`When the electrodes 20 and 2| are thus-energized, a high potential field of non-uniform voltwill be established. in a treating space 5|!v bounded by the edges 26 and 36. The eld will concentrate at these edges and willbe position adjacent any particular edge than4 at a position spaced therefrom toward the center of the treating space 50. Also.v the electric field as a whole will be more but which edges 35 are in substanemulsion for s ing space 5D in 'whichV the emulsion is subjectedl thev passage 5 maintain a potential differ- 45 distributor means intense Open at its upper along dotted lines such as meral 5|.

Before the emulsion enters the 50, the invention contemplates move along a passage .53, between upper'and lower vplates comprise substantially impervious and substantially fiat portions providing surfaces which are in substantial alignment with the edges 26 and 3 6, respectively. Stated in -other words, the edges 35, for example, are substantially in alignment with a line proiectedfrom the surface of the plate 55. A

The preferred cons ructlon is to support the plates 55 and 55 on the electrodes =2B and 2|. Thus, the plate 55 is shown as being connected by angular members 55 to the attachment members-23, while the plate 55 is si ilarly connected to the attachmentmembers 33. In this manner, the plates 5i and 55 can fbe made a part 'of the electrode structures 20. and 2|, respectively, and if these plates are of`metal, an electric field will be established in the passage 53. On the other hand, if the plates 54and 55 are formed of insulating material or are insulated from the electrodes 20 and 2|, no substantial treatment of the emulsion the passage 53.

If the plates 5 and 55 are formed of metal and are electrically connected to the electrodes 2li and 2|, the iield in the passage 53 will be of uniform gradient and will not be lconcentrated at any section. Suchev field is capable of preliminarily treating an emulsion discharged thereinto and advantageously prepares the Absequent treatment in the treatindicated by the nuthat it should shown as being formed plates 54 'and 55. These to a non-uniform eld which is highly concen-l trated adjacent the edges 25 and 35.

As shown, the lower vplate 55 provides an opening 51. Likewise, inthe preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper plate 54 provides an opening 58, these openings permitting access to 3 of the liquid in trode structurels submerged. In operation, best results have been obtained by, using an upper plate 54 which is of somewhat larger diameter than the lowerplate 55 and in which the opening 58 is slightly larger than the opening 5l. On the other hand, the diameter of the opening 51 should be suchasto prevent short-.circuiting of the lower plate 55, if formed of metal, and the to be later described.

The present invention contemplates the movement ofthe emulsion to be treated through the passage 53 and subsequently through at least a portion of the treating-space 50. Acting to deliver the emulsion to the sion distribution system, shown as including an emulsion distributor 60. It is desirable that this emulsion distributor be of such nature as to direct a stream or thin sheet of emulsion outward in the passage 53 in a\direction substantially parallel to the plates 54 and 55 and with an initial velocity 'suiiicient to carry the stream beyond the peripheries of these platesand successively across -the edges 28 and the edges 38, by winch I have reference to a transverse movement of the emul- ,ision across the high gradient zones of the treatingspace 50.

Figure 4 best shows the details of this emulsion distributor 5|). Referring thereto, emulsion delivered under pressure through a pipe means 5| enters a chamber 82 formed end and a head member M treating space willl takev place during iiow along which the elec- I passage 53 is an emulby a member B3 are spaced slightly from the treater is to under pressure to the pipe -stream o! oil 11 and a heat exchanger 18 the oil to the desired extent. Similarly, a pump these constituents accurately/the nula drawn from above and below the electrode disposed thereabove. 'Ihese members provide, respectively, contiguous surfaces 55 and 61 which. when emulsion is ilowing through the distributor, each other to denean annular discharge orifice 58. This will form a thin sheet of emulsion moving radially outward from the distributorl 50. ,As shown, this sheet of emulsion enters the passage 53 substantially midway between the plates 54 and 55, though the horizontal 'position of the annular discharge oriilce 55 with respect to the plates 54 and 55 can be varied without departing from the vspirit of the invention. Preferably, the thickness of the emulsion stream discharged from the annular Il is made to vary with the quantity of emulsion contained in the stream. This can be accomplished by use of a pin secured to and depending from the head member 84 to extend into ,the pipe means 5|. A guide means 1|'in the` form of a spider tends to slidably mount one portion c! the 'pin 10, and the lower` end of this pin may carry-a guide means in the form of a 'spider 1-2 which is vertically movable in the pipev means 5i to center the pin 10, A spring 13 compressed between the spiders 1|., and 12 moves the head member 55 resiliently toward the memberl 53. When noemulsion is ilowing through the dis-v suriaces 55 and 61 are in seal-A ing relationship. `When emulsion is delivered to the pipe means 5| under pressure, the head member 54 rises' against the action of the spring 13 to distribute this emulsion as an outward-moving stream.

` The pipe means 5I communicates with a pipe I extending to a position outside the tank and which may include a' weight-loaded 'valve 15 if be used for electric purification; otherwise the incoming emulsioncan be delivered 15 by any suitable In the electric puriilcation process, a is delivered to the pipe 15 by a pmp may be used to heat 19 delivers a proportioned stream of waterfto'a 'l' 55, this water being heatd,.if desired,'by a heat exchanger 5I; This purification process can be operated in accordance .with the patent to Harold C. Eddy, supra, and, if desired, the oil and water can be mixed to the desired extent in the arrows 55 of Figures' lation. paths within shown in Figure 1.

the tank lil substantially as of mulsion constituents, indicated by arrows 8l, tending to mix to some extent with -the discharged emulsion during tlow along the passage 53 and particularly in the treating space".y Similarly, the iet action oi' the emulsion discharged as indicated by,v9 the arrows I5 pulls treated emulsion constituents downward through the opening 55. from la, position above the upper electrode 25, as indicated byarrows l1. correspondingly, are established around and through the electrodes. The relative amounts ci' fluid entering the e 53,

openings 51 and 5I of the plates 5'5l and 5l. By changing theseopenings, it is possible to control relative amounts ci recirculated For example, it draws-into` the'passage 5I through the openings and from v a position below thelower electrode 2i a stream closed circulation paths` it has been found that the use of and55 can be made to increase the amount of'recirculation over and above an electrodesystem in which these plates are eliminated.

Thisis particularly desirable in treating thosey emulsions which tend to sludge. By way of example, sludge accumulations usually occur at or immediately above -the surface Il, and by using an appropriate recirculation, as indicated by the arrows 85, this sludge tends to be picked up and returned to the passage 53 and the treating space 5|l, this re-treatment continuing repeatedly until the unresolved emulsion 'concentric electrodes emulsion would be-immediately subjected to. an edge-bounded electric ileld which, of course, conpresent in the sludge is broken and resolved into its oil and water con`- stituents.

Another-important advantage of the present invention lies, I believe,

in a novel'pre-treatment of the'emulsion before it enters the treating space 50. It the plates 54 and 55 were eliminated and substituted, the stream of centrates adjacent the edges of the concentric rings. If the gradient high, there is a tendency in the highestgradient portion of the ,ield for dispersed. water droplets to be broken up electrically into smaller droplets, eventhough the same field in its less intense portions may serve to coalesce the dispersed droplets of the emulsion. Such electric re-dispersion is usually to be avoided. Movement of the emulsion through the passage 53 preparatory -to entering the high gradient ields in the treating space appears somehow to be beneilcial in this respect. Pre-treatment in the passage 53, whether mer'ely by mixing or by electric action,

has been found to be very desirable. Correspondingly, it is probable that this factor is also 0i' importance in the capability of thisv electrode sys-f" vtern of avoiding sludgedimculties,` for it is known that electrical re-'dispersion can be one factor in sludge production.

The invention is well adapted tothe treatment of either naturally-occurring `or 'articially' here detailed. While the invention has been combination with annular electrodes,

shown vin this is' not always essential in) v iew of the fact that fbe'neilcial results can be obtained by ilow- However, it is desirable, tric field is established as indicated by the arrows 55 and I1, are controlled respectivelyby the size of the `ing the 'emulsion along a plate and thence ysucof edg'les, irrespectivev cessively across a number of whether the plate or the edges are annular.

` particularly if an elec- 'inthe' passage 5l, 'to have this ileld of substantially uniform voltage gradient,V in 'which eveht the s ubsequent treatment inthe non-uniform tleld will be very bene-V.

lcial.v l

Various changes andfmodications can be made without departing from the spirit of the it being understood that the detailed of an exemplified embodiment is made invention,- description `vWithout intent of limiting the invention thereto.

I claim as my invention:

l 1. In combination in an emulsions and the'like': viding a plurality oi' aligned edges; a lower electrode providing a plurality of valigned, edges spaced from said edges oi' said upper electrode to denne a treating electric treater for of the ileld is made too an upper/electr'cde prol space, said ,electrodesV being` disposed in an oil environment; means for imlower edges; a lower annular electrode including the central opening a potential diii'erence of emulsion into said inlet portion oi said pasbetween said plates in such manner andwith combination of:

- `said electrodes being inside said container; means adjacent the 'pressing a potential difference between said electrodes to form an electric eld in said treating space; upper and lower plates disposed at one end. oi said treating space, said plates respectively being positioned substantially opposite said electrodes and being spaced from 'each other to dene a passage providing intake and discharge ends respectively communicating openly with said oil environment and with said treating space; and introduction means for introducing a stream of the fiuid to be treated into said passage in a direction to move therealong and then therefrom into said treating space, said introduction means including a discharge orifice directed to project said stream of y y relationship with and at a positionbetween said plates to draw into said intake end of said passage some of the surrounding oil whereby this oil moves with the introduced fluid along -said 20 passage and into said treating'space.

2. A combination as defined in claim l, including means for impressing a potential dierence between said upper and lower plates for establishing an electric eld therebetween which acts on said fluid stream treating space.

3. In combination in an electric treater, an electrode system and an emulsion distribution system adapted to be positioned in an environment of oil-continuous material of a tank including: an upper annular electrode including a plurality of depending annular rings around the. central opening thereof, said rings providing before dischargednto said a plurality of upward-extending rings around thereof, said rings providing upper edges spaced from said lower edges to define a treating space; means for electrically insulating said electrodes from each other whereby between saidupper and lower electrodes will result in the establishment of intense electric iields between the edges ofv said upper and lower electrodes; upper and lower spaced annular plates disposed respectively adjacent said centralV openings of said upper and lower annular electrodes to provide a passage having a discharge portion ope ng on said treating space and having an inlet portion in open communication with said oil-continuous material through the openings of said annular plates; and. an emulsion distributor for 'discharging a. stream sage in an outward direction and at a section suflicient velocity to move said emulsion into and along said passage and into said ltreating space and to draw oil-continuous material into said inlet end of said passage lthrough said openings of. said annular plates to advance through said passage with said emulsionA and discharge with said emulsion into said treating space.' 4. In an electric treater for emulsions, the

efcgontainer; an upper/annular interstitial electrode in said container and providing a throat; a lower annular interstitial electrode in saidcontainer and providing a throat,

spaced to define lan annular treating space and being submerged in a iiuid emulsion distributing ,70 center of said annular space for discharging a stream of emulsion outward in a direction along said treating space in a mannertending to draw fluid-into said treating spaceby aspiration from a zone .above said upper electrically connecting in horizontally-spaced electrode through the throat thereof and'irom a. zone below said lower electrode through the throat thereof; a pair of spaced annularplates coaxial with said.- emulsion and disposed in planes parallel to and on opposite sides ci the stream of emulsion, said annular plates being respectively. 'electrically connected to and disposed in the throatso`f said electrodes whereby the aspirated iiuid enters the space between the annular plates through the central openings of these annular plates and fiows outwardly into said annular treating space with said emulsion; and means for establishing electric fields between said annular plates and in said annular treating space.

5. In an electric treater for emulsions, a submerged-type reclrculating electrode unit, including in combination: a set of rings of different diameter; means for mounting said setof rings in horizontally-spaced concentric relationshipto uid above andbelow said set oi ring-s, said means stantially horizontal annular plate within the innermost ring of said set of rings; an interstitial horizontally-extending annular electrode spaced vertically with respect to said rings to 4provide a treating space; means for establishing an electric field in said treating space; a substantially horizontal spaced vertically-with respect to said mst-named annular plate to denne an inner spacecommunieating with said treating space; pipe means extending through the central opening of one of said annular plates; said pipe means being of smaller size than this opening to provide an annular opening ,communicating between the submerging liquid and said inner space; andA 1 means for. directing a substantially .horizontal stream of emulsion radlallyinto said inner space with suiiicient velocity to flow therethrough into E said treating space and to draw a portion of said submerging liquid into said inner spacel by aspiration through said annular opening between said pipe means and said one annular plate and through the central opening of the other annular plate, said'means including an emulsion-distributor in said inner space and providing an orifice directed radially into said innerv space at an elevation between said annular plates.

6. In an electric treater for emulsions, a submerged-type reclrculating electrode unit, including in combination. a set of rings of diierent diameter; means for mounting said set oi rings concentric relationship to provide annular passages therebetween. which communicate openly between the submerging liquid above and below said set of rings, said means electrically connecting said rings together; va substantially horizontal plate within the innermost ring of said set' of rings; another set oi rings of different diameter; means for mounting said other set of rings in horizontally-spaced concentric relationship to provide annular passages therebetween which communicate openly between the submerging liquid above and below said other set of rings, said means electrically connecting said rings ofY said other' set together; means for supporting said other set of rings and said mountposition spaced vertinrst-named set of rings distributing means said rings together; a subannular plate partially closing the opening of said annular electrode and the innermost ring of said other set of rings and 8.. In an electric treater for emulsions, an elec" l spaced from said rstnamed plate to dene an trode unit for establishing an electric ileld withinner space communicating with said treating in an electrode-unit-submerg'ing liquid, said elecf space; pipe means extending through the central trode unit including, in combination: means for opening oi said annular plate, said pipe means 5 discharging radially outward and substantially being of smaller size than said opening to prohorizontally a thin sheet of,emulsion at a posivide an annular opening communicatingbetween tion within the submerging liquid, said means the submerging liquid and said inner space; and including a distributor providing an annular dismeans for directing a horizontal stream oi emulcharge oriiice from which said sheet of emulsion sion radially into said inner space with sumcient l issues; an upper submerged electrode structure velocity to flow. therethroughinto said treating comprising a plurality oi lelectrically-connected space and to draw a portion of said submerging concentric rings spaced horizontally from each liquid into saidv inner space through said annu other and providing lower :Held-bounding edges` lar opening by aspiration, Asaid means including substantially in alignment with each other, said an emulsion distributor in said inner space and l upper electrode structure 'also providing a cenproviding an orifice directed radially into said trally-disposed upperannular plate substantially inner space at an elevation between said annular in alignment with said held-bounding edges of plates. l said rings; a. lower submerged electrode structure 7. In an electric treater for emulsions, a sub-` lcomprising a plurality of electrically-connected merged-type electrode unit including, in combiconcentric rings spaced horizontally 'from each nation: an upper circular plate and a lower cirother and providing upper field-bounding edges cular plate disposed therebeneath to deilne an substantially in alignment with each other, said outwardly-extending passage therebetween, one lower. electrode structure also providing a cenof said plates providing an opening, said plates trally-disposed lower annular plate substantially l being disposed in an environment of oil-contin- 2 5 in alignment with said held-bounding edges of uous material; pipe means extending through said said rings of said lower electrode structure; and opening of said one plate and being smaller than means for insulating Asaid electrode structures this opening to provide an annular space through from each other and for mounting said upper which oil-continuous material may enter said electrode structure concentric with said distriboutwardly-extending passage, lthe other of said utor in such position that said upper annular plates also providing an opening through which plate is above said annular discharge orice and oil-continuous material may .enter said outfor mounting said lower electrode structure conwardly-extending passage; discharge means concentric with said distributor in such position that nected to said pipe means and providing an ansaid lower annular plate is below said annular nular discharge orice directed into and along discharge orifice whereby the held-bounding said passage for discharging emulsion from said edges vof said upper and` lower electrode strucpipe means to flow as a stream along and through tures are spaced to deiine a treating space and said outwardly-extending passage, said plates b esaid upper and' lower annular plates are spaced ing suiiiciently close to said stream that streams to deilne an inner, space into which said sheet of oll -continuous lmaterialfare aspirated into said 40 of emulsion is discharged by said "distributor,

Voutwardly-extending passage through said anthe velocity of dischargebeing suiiicient to move nular space and through' the opening of said the emulsion from said inner space into said other plate; and upper and lower electrode means treating space and the vertical spacing of said insulated from each other and disposed respecupper and lower annular platesbeing such that tively around and extending outwardly beyond the discharged sheet of emulsion aspirates the the peripheries orsaid upper and lower circular i submerging liquid into said inner space through plates and respectively providing electrode sur-` ,the openings v-0! both annular plates.

faces at substantially the same horizontal posi- Y tions as said upper and lower plates for estab- PAUL H. BRACE, lishing an electric ileld .into which moves the 50 v emulsionilowing' outggardiy from said passage.` 

